Prep football: Ridgefield 37, Fort Vancouver 8

Michael Knox rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns — and added a kickoff return touchdown — leading Ridgefield to a 37-8 non-league win over Fort Vancouver in a battle of first-year head coaches Friday at Kiggins Bowl.

Knox scored on runs of 6 and 50 yards in a 20-0 third quarter as the Spudders pulled away from a nine-point game at the half.

Dalton Ries kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, capping a two-minute drill by the Spudders.

Then it was all Ridgefield in the second half. Ian Williams capped the scoring on a 1-yard run.

Quarterback Jacob Austin’s 8-yard run and a two-point conversion gave Fort an 8-7 lead early in the second quarter. The advantage lasted just seconds.

Knox returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Knox also had a 61-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Ridgefield’s Matt Martin picked up his first win as a head coach after 18 years as an assistant at various programs.

Fort Vancouver coach Eric Ollikainen showcased a passing attack for the Trappers. Austin passed for 191 yards. Taylor VanHeck had six catches for 101 yards.

Ridgefield finished with 424 yards of offense, 406 on the ground.

Next week: Fort Vancouver (0-1) at Battle Ground; Ridgefield (1-0) vs. Woodland.

Ridgefield 7 10 20 0— 37

Fort Vancouver 0 8 0 0 —8

First quarter

Rid — Michael Knox 61 run (Dalton Ries kick)

Second quarter

FV — Jacob Austin 8 run (Jordan Vela pass from Robert Bain)

Rid — Knox 85 kickoff return (Ries kick)

Rid — Ries 29 FG

Third quarter

Rid — Knox 6 run (Ries kick)

Rid — Knox 50 run (Ries kick)

Rid — Ian Williams 1 run (kick failed)

Individual statistics

Rushing — Ridgefield — Knox 16-247, Ian Williams 10-56, Clayton Farr 5-46, Ries 6-18, Matt Cushwa 3-41, Tyson Wright 3-4, Gunnar Long 3- (-6) Fort Vancouver — Abdul Conteh 14-35, Bain 5-15, Austin 10-11.

Passing — Ridgefield — Farr 2-4-0-15, Long 1-3-0-18. Fort Vancouver Austin 15-33-2-191.

Receiving — Ridgefield — John White 1-18, Ries 1-10, Kyle Carl 1-5 Fort Vancouver — Taylor VanHeck 6-101, Jordan Vela 5-54, Bain 2-22, Mario Avalos-Eyler 2-14.

— Paul Valencia